Double ended wrench with adjustable sockets



Aug. 20, 1957 J. c. KING 2,803,158

DOUBLE ENDED WRENCH WITH ADJUSTABLE SOCKETS Filed April 25, 1955 Z3 /7 /0 m8 f 5 M 7 7 /7 0 I V l/ 4 4 FIG. 2. /0 J/ 6; 2 a {a Fm Joel a [ring IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEV United States Patent O DOUBLE ENDED WRENCH WITH ADJUSTABLE SOCKETS Joel C. King, Mansfield, Tex., assignor of fifty percent to James W. Patterson, Mansfield, Tex.

Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,393

2 Claims. (Cl. 8177) This invention relates to hand tools, and the like, and it has particular reference to wrenches of the type commonly referred to as open end wrenches, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision of structure by which the jaws can be adjusted as to dimension so as to adapt the same to different size nut and bolt heads thus affording a single wrench capable of application to a plurality of dilferent size nuts.

An object of the invention is that of providing an economical device by which the receptacles defined by the jaws can be adjusted by sliding filler bars thereinto from the body portion of the tool, the bars being of diiferent predetermined thickness to vary the jaw area to fit standard size nuts, and such variations in jaw area dimensions can be accomplished by the simple manipulation of the slide members while the wrench is operated.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of frictional means by which the slide members can be releasably secured in operative positions yet providing for quick and flexible movement of these members to insure the maximum of facility in operation.

Broadly, the invention contemplates the provision of a wrench structure having utilitarian features of design not present in conventional tools for a similar purpose, and alfording a means for minimizing the number of wrenches usually required for normal operations.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the appended drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention showing portions cut away to illustrate the ways or grooves in the body and the slide members.

Figure 2 is an edge view of the wrench showing one of the grooves and the knurled bar actuating lug.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on lines 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the slide grooves and the slide bars therein, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view, on lines 44 of Figure 2, illustrating the detents for frictionally securing the slide bars in adjusted positions.

The invention is simple in design and comprises a body 10 formed with jaws 11 and 12 at each end defining receptacles 13 and 14 for polygonal nuts or bolt heads. The jaw members are conventional in form and the lateral dimension of the receptacle 13, or the distance between the jaws 11 and 12 defining the same, is less than that of the receptacle 14 at the opposite end of the body 10. It is desirable that each of the receptacles 13 or 14 be of a predetermined dimension to fit a standard size nut.

In each opposing edge of the body 10, between the jaws is formed a way or groove 15 and 16 in which slides 17 and 18 are arranged to have a limited movement longitudinally of the body 10, the outer ends being flattened to form blades 19, 10, 21 and 22 of each slide being of different thicknesses and adapted to extend into the "ice receptacles 13 and 14 along the inner faces of the jaws 11 and 12 to reduce the lateral dimensions of the receptacles by the thickness of the members 19, 20, 21 or 22. Each of the jaws 11 and 12 has an opening 23 therein aligned with the grooves 15 and 16 and the blades 19, 20, 21 and 22 extend through these openings and slide along the inner surfaces of the jaws, as shown in Figure 1.

The grooves 15 and 16 have greater depth toward each end of the body 10 defining shoulders 24 engageable by corresponding shoulders 25 formed in the inner surfaces of the slides 17 and 18 by reason of an offset portion 26 in each of the members 17 and 18, as is apparent in Figure 1. The shoulders 24 and 25 limit the longitudinal movement of the slides 17 and 18 in one direction while shoulders 27 provide stops in the jaws 11 and 12 to properly align the blades with the receptacles 13 and 14.

Intermediate the ends of the body 10 is a bore 28 arranged transversely through the width thereof and a coil spring 29 is arranged in the bore 28 having a ball 30 on each end adapted to engage opposing indentations 31 in the inner faces of the slides 17 and 18 to retain the same in adjusted positions. This device is illustrated in detail in Figure 4. Obviously, other suitable devices can be provided for this purpose. Knurled lugs 32 are formed integral with the slides 17 and 18 by which these members are moved.

In operation, both of the slides 17 and 18 may be moved in one direction, if desired, to obtain the maximum dimension for either of the receptacles 13 or 14, or the members 17 and 18 can be moved alternately in either direction to bring the desired blade into one of the receptacles according to the size of the nut to which the tool is to be applied. In either case, a pair of the indentations 31 are aligned to be engaged by the balls 30 to provide a frictional detent to hold the slide in position. Only slight pressures are required to move the slides when necessary.

'Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of certain changes and modifications from time to time, by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wrench having a body portion formed with integral jaws at each end having parallel sides conformable to a polygonal nut, a slide operative in each opposing edge of said body portion capable of being alternately moved longitudinally of said body portion to extend into said jaws to affect the diameters thereof, and means comprising a spring tensioned detent for releasably locking said slides in adjusted positions.

2. In a wrench, an integral body member having a jaw formed at each end conformable to a polygonal nut, a groove formed along each opposing edge of said body member, a slide arranged in each of said grooves capable of moving longitudinally thereof and extending into each of said jaws alternately to increase or decrease the diameter of said jaws, and spring tensioned means for releasably securing said slides in adjusted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,554,964 Fisher Sept. 22, 1925 1,646,140 Dickie Oct. 18, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 697 Great Britain of 1866 14,386 Great Britain of 1896 266,333 Germany Oct. 23, 1913 191,921 Great Britain Jan. 25, 1923 363,941 Great Britain Dec. 31, 1931 

